Woman dies in rollover car crash in in Upper Fruitland

FARMINGTON — A woman was killed in a rollover crash Thursday on Navajo Route 36.

Shiprock police Lt. Phillip Joe said there was a single-vehicle crash about one mile west of the intersection near Northern Edge Navajo Casino in Upper Fruitland shortly after midnight on Thursday.

Joe did not release the identity of the woman and said police were working to determine if alcohol was involved.

He said the investigation is ongoing, and Navajo police have received assistance from the FBI and New Mexico State Police. He didn't say if the woman was a driver or a passenger.

On Wednesday night, a deputy was parked near the intersection of N.M. Highway 371 and N36 doing traffic enforcement and saw a dark sport utility vehicle turn onto N36 at a high-rate of speed around midnight, said San Juan County Sheriff's Office Lt. Dave Hamlin. The deputy attempted to pursue the vehicle but could reach it before coming to the intersection near the casino.

The sheriff's deputies believe that may have been the vehicle that crashed a mile further down the road, Hamlin said.

Thursday's crash marked the fifth fatal crash on San Juan County roads in 2013.